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Chatting with Jarret Stoll

Author of the article:

gregh17

Publishing date:

June 14, 2012 • 3 minute read

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Yorkton’s Jarret Stoll is on top of the world after helping the L.A. Kings claim their first Stanley Cup title on Monday. Stoll spoke to the Leader-Post about the experience for a story that appears in Thursday’s paper and on leaderpost.com. Here’s what else he had to say . . .On the turning point for the Kings: “Once we got Jeff Carter (in a trade with Columbus), he solidified our lineup so much. We needed to score more goals and he helped in that area. Everybody was just kind of slotted better throughout the lineup. Our defence was always great, our goaltending has always been great since I’ve been here. The forward depth on our team, everybody can play from our fourth line to our first line. We can all play in certain situations. (Head coach) Darryl (Sutter) just let us jump over the boards and play the game. The way we were playing some nights it was very hard to beat us. That’s how we felt. That’s how confident we were. When you have confidence like that you just have to try to ride it as long as possible and we did that.”On a roller-coaster season: “It was a tough year, with the coaching change (Terry Murray was fired and replaced by Sutter). We were struggling. We were 11th, 12th (in the conference), we’d go on a little bit of a run and we were leading our division and third in the conference, then we were back to 10th. It was a grinding year but the last 20 games we really just took off and started playing good consistent hockey (finishing eighth). Then in the playoffs it doesn’t matter what seed you are, whether you’re eight, one, two, five, whatever, you just have to find a way to win games. That’s what we did. We just came together at the right time, peaked at the right time.”On a winning formula: “Everybody has their role and they have to take pride in it, try to do anything to help the team win. I just tried to be myself and play how I need to play and try to contribute defensively and chip in offensively whenever I could. Me, Trevor Lewis and Kinger (Dwight King), we had a good thing going. We worked hard and created some chances. You have to have every line going. We won because we had everybody playing well. It’s a fun group to be a part of. We all have a good time together and I think that’s very important not only on the ice but off the ice. You have to enjoy each other’s company and have fun with each other and care about each other because that’s how you win.”On Stoll’s unsung role: “It didn’t really matter where I played in the lineup as long as I still contribute, play my role, try to play consistently, be a good penalty killer, play well defensively, try to score some goals. It was a struggle this year to score goals but we found a way to win games and that’s all that really matters to me personally. You have to adjust a little bit. We had guys come in and trades happen. That only makes your team better. That’s because the organization wants to win and we all want to win. Here we are today and life is good.”On his two WHL titles with Kootenay: “It’s similar in that it’s a championship and you win with a group of guys you love and care about. It’s just a different level with how hard it is to win this thing. I’m sure I’ll reflect a little bit maybe in a couple weeks when things settle down and guys start to go their separate ways. Right now we’re just having fun, enjoying it, taking that Cup around L.A. and Vegas and wherever else that thing is going to end up (laughs).”On creating a buzz in L.A.: “Hockey is growing here a lot. They’re building a lot more rinks. There’s a lot more kids playing hockey now, wanting to play hockey, watching it on TV. Even where we live (many of the players reside in southeast L.A.) surfing and beach volleyball are kind of the sports. Now all of a sudden there’s a lot of people talking about hockey. It’s a different lifestyle here but everybody can enjoy sport and come out and watch. Definitely people have.”

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